The agency reviewed the justifications submitted by the districts, redid the calculations using the formula approved by the U.S. Department of Education and concluded the grades originally issued are accurate.

“We used the scoring method approved by the U.S. Department of Education across the state and then carefully reviewed the reasons offered by school districts in their appeals,” State Superintendent Mick Zais said. “We have taken into account all concerns raised by the districts and are confident that we have correctly analyzed these appeals.”

Last year, 30 school districts filed 61 appeals and all grades were upheld.